Exeter Supply Partnership

Today is National Thank a Teacher Day.

A chance to recognise not only incredible teachers, but also the teaching assistants, nursery practitioners, office teams and other support staff who help schools and nurseries run every single day.

There are so many people working incredibly hard behind the scenes to support children and young people across Devon, often in ways that go unnoticed.

So today, we’d love to encourage people to use the comments to thank someone working in education who makes a difference.

Whether it’s a teacher, TA, nursery practitioner, colleague or wider member of staff, feel free to give them a mention below.

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⏰ Applications for our Primary Teacher Training courses starting in September 2026 are closing soon!

If you want to be in the classroom making a difference this autumn, now is the time to apply.

Submit your application today and secure your spot with our brilliant local partner schools.

👉 Find out more and apply here: http://exeterconsortium.com/train-to-teach

Carrie has worked in Early Years for around 30 years across nursery management, SEND and practitioner roles.

After rethinking her work-life balance, she decided she wanted the flexibility of working on supply within local settings and joined ESP after seeing one of our posts on Facebook.

Since then, she has worked across a range of settings, built new relationships and continued developing professionally through ongoing training opportunities.

One of the things we hear regularly from supply staff is how much they value the flexibility, variety and relationships that supply work can offer at different stages of their career.

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing your experience with us.

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A huge thank you to all the teachers, teaching assistants, nursery practitioners and school staff supporting children and young people across Devon this term.

June is often one of the busiest and most demanding points in the school year.

We see how much hard work, flexibility and care go into keeping schools moving during this time of year, and we know many school staff are going above and beyond every single day.

If your school needs any additional support over the coming weeks, please get in touch with our team.

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Absolutely.

We regularly work with teachers, TAs and nursery practitioners who are returning to education after time away for family life, caring responsibilities, relocation, career changes or other personal circumstances.

For many people, supply work can be a great way to rebuild confidence, gain experience in different settings, and ease back into working within schools or nurseries at a pace that suits them.

Our team is always happy to have an informal chat and talk through any opportunities available.

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Not every ECT lands a role straight away.
And if that’s you, you’re not alone.

As we move towards the end of the academic year, we know this can be an uncertain time for some Early Career Teachers.

For those who haven’t secured a role for September yet, it can feel like you’re running out of time.

But that isn’t the case, and there are other options.

We recently worked with an ECT who had been applying for roles without success. Rather than giving up, he chose to take on supply work. During that time, he built confidence, gained experience across different schools, and continued developing in the classroom.

He’s now gone on to secure a role. Big congratulations, Michael! 👏🏻

If you’re not quite sure what comes next, supply can be a really valuable way to keep moving forward while you find the right fit.

Drop us a message, we’d love to hear from you.

Read what made a difference for Michael here: https://www.exetersupplypartnership.com/blog

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Some nursery drop-offs are harder than others, and if you’ve ever left a child in tears, you’ll know how important those first few moments of support are in a child’s day.
Early Years and nursery settings require a different kind of support.
Patience, warmth, and the ability to create a calm, safe environment from the moment a child walks through the door.
This is why it’s so important to have experienced staff ready to step in when needed, people who can quickly build trust, provide reassurance, and help children feel settled.
If you have any upcoming gaps or need additional support, we’re always happy to help. If you are a nursery practitioner looking for flexible work and interested in supporting a range of settings, contact us about joining our team.

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Devon schools are struggling to cope with growing pressure this summer — and now they’re urgently calling for more supply teachers and support staff 📚⚠️

There are lots of reasons people choose supply work…

For some, it’s about flexibility during a particular stage of life.
For others, it’s a way to stay connected to the classroom without the additional workload that often comes with a permanent role.

We recently heard from one of the teachers we work with, who shared their experience:
“I began supply teaching when we relocated back to Devon to care for an elderly relative. It gave me the flexibility I needed, without the evening and weekend work that comes with a permanent role.” Heather

Everyone’s reason looks a little different, and that’s what makes supply so valuable. Our staff come from all walks of life, each bringing different skills and experiences into the classroom.

If you’re considering supply work, whether for flexibility or a change of location, we’d love to hear from you.

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At this point in the term, having the right person in place can make a real difference.
Particularly in Key Stage 1, where routine, consistency, and a calm approach are so important for pupils.
We’re fortunate to work with a strong pool of experienced KS1 teachers who are confident stepping into different classroom environments and supporting children at this stage of their learning.
If you have any upcoming dates where support might be needed, we’re always happy to help.

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